Automatic circuit-closer for telegraph-keys



(No Model.) Y

- S; J. SPURGEON.

AUTDMATIG oiltoulr CLOSER FOR TELEGRAPH KEYS. No. 284,608. Petented Sept. 4, 1883.

ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS, Phowliihuglgpher. wet-hinge". D. C.

telegraph-key, thus closing the circuit.

- SAMUEL J.

PATENT OFFICE.

SPURGEON, OF LIBERTY, MISSOUBL AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT-CLOSER FOR TELEGRAPH-KEYS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 284,508, dated September 4,1683

Application filed April is; 1883. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL J. SPURGEON, of Liberty, in the county of Clay and State of Missouri, have invented a new'and Improved AutomaticOircuit-Closer, of which the follow ing is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my inventionisto provide a new and improved automatic circuit-closer for telegraph-keys.

The invention consists in a spring-lever pressed upward against a laterally-projecting hook or prong of the contact-button below the The end of the said lever -is held a short distance above and over the finger button-head of the key, so that when the key is depressed the said lever can be depressed to break the circuit,

which is closed again automatically as soon as thelever is released.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings,*formin g part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a telegraph-key provided with my improved circuit-closer. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same on the line 00 m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the circuit-closing lever.

' The telegraph-key A is of the usual construction. A lever, B, made of elastic metal, and having the upwardly-projecting part a, the

horizontal part 12, having offset a, and the horizontal rearwardly extension d, is secured to the base-frame O by the screw D, and has its upper end bent so that it will be about from one-fourth to threeeighths of an inch above and over the button E of the key A. The lever B passes under alaterally-projecting hook or prong, F, and is pressed against the under surface of the same by the spring of the metal of which the said lever is made, or it can be pressed upward by a spring placed below it. The lever B will thus close the connection between the points D and F until the said lever is depressed, when the circuit is broken at F. The circuit must be broken between the points D and F while the operator is telegraphing, and in order to accomplish this the operator places the forefinger on the end of. the lever B and presses the same down to the button E, and then grasps the latter with the thumb and middle finger, and thus keeps the circuit broken while telegraphing. As soon as the lever B is released it is pressed against the hook or prong F'and the circuit is closed automatically, and thus the key can never be-left open, and thelever B is very convenient, as the operator need not take the trouble of closing the circuit every time he stops telegraphing. The lever B can be provided wit-h a long rear "end, as shown,

so that it can easily be adjusted to a long or short key. That end of the lever B over the buttonE may be provided with a rubber tip. It can be applied on old as well as new keys.

I am aware that a circuit-closing lever pivoted to a telegraph-key and having its end encircling or resting under the knob of the key has heretofore been employed, and Itherefore do not claim such invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent 1. As an improved article of manufacture,

the circuit-closing lever B, made of elastic material, and having the upwardly-projecting part a, the horizontal part I), having offset a, and the horizontal rearward extension d, sub stantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with a telegraph-key, A,'of the spring-lever B, fastened at D, and of y the laterally-projecting hook or prong F, connected with the contact-button below the key, under which prong the lever B presses, the free end of the lever B being a short distance above and over the finger-button E of the key A, substantially as herein shown and described, and.

for the purpose set forth.

I SAMUEL J. SPURGEON.

Witnesses:

CHARLES W. MOORE, W. H. EWING. 

